The Apparel Made-Ups & Home Furnishing Sector Skill Council (AMHSSC) has announced its 2026 roadmap, aiming to steer India’s garment industry toward a digitally empowered future. Sewing Machine Operator remains a core job role, forming the backbone of India’s apparel workforce. Meanwhile, the council will focus on Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence (AI), MSME cluster development, and leadership skilling as top priorities.
Centres of Excellence to Modernise Training
A central element of the roadmap is the creation of Centres of Excellence (COEs) across India. These centres will integrate AI-led learning, productivity tools, and advanced manufacturing practices into traditional training frameworks. The goal is to move beyond basic tailoring and improve global employability in India’s labour-intensive apparel sector.
Preparing the Workforce for Global Standards
Dr. A. Sakthivel, Chairman of AMHSSC, highlighted the need for India’s apparel industry to align with global manufacturing benchmarks. He stated that technology-driven skills, sustainability, and leadership are key to the sector’s future. According to him, the roadmap equips India’s workforce for domestic growth and international competitiveness.
Shri Ashish Srivastava, CEO of AMHSSC, added that 2026 will focus on building a tech-enabled talent pool. By integrating AI and sustainability into the curriculum, the council ensures training meets future industry needs. Leadership development and MSME cluster skilling will allow skill programmes to reach every layer of the apparel sector.
MSME Clusters and Career Progression
The second pillar of AMHSSC’s strategy targets MSME and cluster-based development. Localised training will help small and medium enterprises acquire specialised, industry-relevant skills. This will improve efficiency and scalability.
The council will also introduce aspirational supervisory and leadership roles, shifting from entry-level vocational training to structured career progression. Sustainability will be mandatory across all programmes to align with global compliance and green manufacturing standards.
Strong Industry Performance in 2025
AMHSSC certified 1.69 lakh candidates in 2025. PM Vishwakarma (PMVK) accounted for 83,817 certifications, non-PMKVY initiatives for 73,024, and PMKVY for 12,272.
Industry engagement under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) remained robust. A total of 201 apparel and textile establishments registered, with 4,414 apprenticeship contracts recorded. This reflects growing confidence in structured skill development and the council’s future-ready initiatives.
